FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-32 7/16/98

One hundred-and-thirteen veteran free agents re-signed with their old teams this year during the unrestricted free agency signing period, while 113 signed with new teams, the National Football League announced today. The five-month UFA signing period under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and players ended July 15.

The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers signed the most unrestricted free agents from other teams, eight each; followed by the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, with seven each; and the Chicago Bears and St. Louis Rams, who signed six each.

There were a total of 305 unrestricted free agents this year. The total player pool is approximately 1,700.

In addition, four of this year's 110 restricted free agents signed with new teams, while 96 returned to their former clubs. The period for restricted free agents to accept offers from other teams ended April 13.

The 117 total free agents who switched teams represent only seven percent of all NFL players. Of 468 players who were free agents in the various categories of the system, 326 have signed new contracts with either new teams or their old clubs.

"The veteran free agent signings reflect an ongoing awareness on the part of teams and players that continuity and stability are more important in our sport, perhaps, than in others," said HAROLD HENDERSON, executive vice president of labor relations and chairman of the NFL Management Council. "The system is maintaining the competitive balance that is so important in our sport."

Under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, those players without 1998 contracts who had four or more seasons of free agency experience were termed "unrestricted free agents" and were free to sign with any club between February 13 and July 15.

If a player's prior club made a 110 percent tender on or before June 1, the prior club retained exclusive negotiating rights after July 15 if the player did not sign with another club. If the player and club are unable to negotiate a contract by the 10th week of the regular season, the player may not play the remainder of the season. If the player sits out the season, he becomes an unrestricted free agent next year.

Under the CBA, restricted free agents are those players who have three seasons of free agency experience and are subject to compensation and/or right of first refusal.

A "transition" player is a designated unrestricted free agent whose team must tender a one-year contract at the average of the 10 highest-paid players of 1997 at the transition player's position, or a 20 percent increase, whichever is greater. A "franchise" player is a designated unrestricted free agent whose team must tender a one-year contract at the average of the five highest-paid players at the franchise player's position in 1997, or a 20 percent increase, whichever is greater.

A comparison of free agent movement since the current CBA went into effect six years ago:

NFL FREE AGENCY MOVEMENT
(Veteran Free Agents Who Signed With New Teams)

 RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS SIGNED BY OLD TEAM (96)

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS SIGNED BY NEW TEAM (4)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS SIGNED BY OLD TEAM (105)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS SIGNED BY NEW TEAM (109)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS WITH RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL SIGNED BY OLD TEAM (2)

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS WITH RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL SIGNED BY NEW TEAM (1)

TRANSITION PLAYERS SIGNED BY OLD TEAM (5)

TRANSITION PLAYERS SIGNED BY NEW TEAM (1)

FRANCHISE PLAYERS SIGNED BY OLD TEAM (1)

FRANCHISE PLAYERS SIGNED BY NEW TEAM (2)